JEDDAH — The Deportation Office in Jeddah will issue exit stamps to illegal foreigners wishing to leave the Kingdom by taking advantage of the grace period announced by the Saudi authorities after they are fingerprinted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting May 21, according to diplomatic sources. In an advisory to its nationals, the Consulate General of India said Indians who wish to avail of the opportunity should get their travel documents ready from the consulate and approach the Deportation Office on these days. Meanwhile, the Embassy of India said a significant number of Indians who obtained emergency travel passes in the past could not leave the country. It said Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah would revalidate the unused emergency certificates (ECs) issued during 2010 and 2011 for a period of three months as an exceptional measure to facilitate their departure, utilizing the concessions announced by Saudi authorities. The immigration authorities in India have also been sensitized appropriately to ensure the smooth entry of workers arriving with revalidated ECs. The embassy said the Indian missions would continue collecting EC applications directly and through various collection centers throughout Saudi Arabia. — SG
